Device setter, device setting system, and recorded medium where device setting program recorded

ABSTRACT

A word-device setting information storage part stores multiple device setting information in association with a single voice and a voice recognition part recognizes a voice input through a voice input part so that the multiple device setting information associated with the recognized voice is read from the word-device setting information storage part to a device control part, which in turn sets an internal device state of a device setting apparatus while an external device control part sets a state of an external device in response to the read multiple device setting information

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a device setting apparatus forsetting a device to a prescribed state, a device setting system and arecording medium recording a device setting program.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 6-233359 (1994)discloses a control unit as a conventional device setting apparatus.This control unit is applied to a remote control device for letting theoperator input a voice identical to that having a pattern previouslystored in an internal memory thereby outputting a control command withrespect to the input voice to a controlled device without operating anykey of the remote control device and remote-controlling the controlleddevice with the voice.

[0003] However, the aforementioned control unit can execute only asingle control command with respect to a single voice. In order to setthe controlled device to a target device state, therefore, the operatormust repeatedly raise his voice for setting various states of thecontrolled device one by one. Further, a recent electronic device suchas a television receiver is so multi-functional that set states of thedevice are extremely complicated, and hence extremely complicatedoperations are required for setting the device, leading to deteriorationof operability in particular.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a device settingapparatus capable of setting a device to a desired state with singlevocalization and improving operability for device setting, a devicesetting system and a recording medium recording a device settingprogram.

[0005] A device setting apparatus according to an aspect of the presentinvention comprises voice input means converting an input voice to avoice signal, voice recognition means recognizing a voice correspondingto the voice signal converted by the voice input means, storage meansstoring multiple device setting information associated with a singlevoice and setting means reading multiple device setting informationcorresponding to the voice recognized by the voice recognition meansfrom the storage means and performing multiple device setting inresponse to the read multiple device setting information.

[0006] The device setting apparatus converts an input voice to a voicesignal, recognizes a voice corresponding to this voice signal, readsmultiple device setting information for the recognized voice from thestorage means and performs multiple device setting in response to theread multiple device setting information. When the operator raises asingle voice, therefore, the device setting apparatus reads multipledevice setting information corresponding to this voice andsimultaneously executes corresponding multiple device setting.Consequently, the device setting apparatus can set a device to a desiredstate with single vocalization and improve operability for devicesetting.

[0007] The setting means preferably includes internal device settingmeans performing multiple device setting in the device settingapparatus.

[0008] In this case, multiple device setting in the device settingapparatus itself can be simultaneously performed with singlevocalization, for improving operability for device setting in the devicesetting apparatus.

[0009] The device setting apparatus may be connected with an externaldevice in a bidirectionally communicable state, and the setting meansmay include external device setting means performing multiple devicesetting on the external device.

[0010] In this case, the device setting apparatus connected with theexternal device in a bidirectionally communicable state can set thestate of the external device. Therefore, the device setting apparatuscan simultaneously perform multiple device setting of the externaldevice with single vocalization, for improving operability for settingthe external device.

[0011] The device setting apparatus preferably further comprisesregistration means registering multiple device setting informationassociated with a new voice in the storage means.

[0012] In this case, the device setting apparatus can newly registermultiple device setting information associated with a new voice in thestorage means, whereby a desired device state can be set with a desiredvoice of the operator, for further improving the operability.

[0013] The registration means preferably further includes display meansdisplaying a plurality of words corresponding to a registrable voice andselection means for selecting a word corresponding to a voice to beregistered from the plurality of words displayed on the display means,and the registration means preferably registers the word selected by theselection means in the storage means in association with multiple devicesetting information.

[0014] In this case, the device setting apparatus displays a pluralityof words corresponding to a registrable voice and registers a wordselected from the displayed plurality of words and multiple devicesetting information associated with this word in the storage means.Therefore, a word and multiple device setting information correspondingto a desired device state can be registered through a simple operationof selecting a desired word from the displayed plurality of words.

[0015] The registration means may further include character displaymeans displaying a plurality of characters for forming a plurality ofwords corresponding to a registrable voice and selection means forselecting a character forming a word corresponding to a voice to beregistered from the plurality of characters displayed on the characterdisplay means, and the registration means may register the word formedby the character selected by the selection means in the storage means inassociation the multiple device setting information.

[0016] In this case, the device setting apparatus displays a pluralityof characters and registers a word selected from the displayed pluralityof characters and multiple device setting information associated withthis word in the storage means. Therefore, the operator can register anarbitrary word easy to use for him along with multiple device settinginformation, whereby the operability can be further improved.

[0017] The registration means may further include acquisition meansacquiring multiple device setting information and selection means forselecting multiple device setting information associated with a newvoice from the multiple device setting information acquired by theacquisition means, and the registration means may register the multipledevice setting information selected by the selection means in thestorage means in association with the new voice.

[0018] In this case, the acquisition means acquires multiple devicesetting information so that the operator selects desired device settinginformation from the acquired multiple device setting information andregisters the selected multiple device setting information in thestorage means. Therefore, multiple device setting informationcorresponding to a desired device state can be registered through asimple operation of selecting desired device setting information fromthe acquired multiple device setting information.

[0019] The selection means preferably further includes receiving meansreceiving a remote control signal transmitted to the device settingapparatus, and the selection means preferably performs selection inresponse to the remote control signal received by the receiving means.

[0020] In this case, the device setting apparatus can be soremote-controlled that the operator can register a desired voice alsowhen at a distance from the device setting apparatus, and theoperability of the device setting apparatus can be further improved.

[0021] A device setting system according to another aspect of thepresent invention comprises a device setting apparatus and a set deviceconnected with the device setting apparatus in a bidirectionallycommunicable state, while the device setting apparatus includes voiceinput means converting an input voice to a voice signal, voicerecognition means recognizing a voice corresponding to the voice signalconverted by the voice input means, storage means storing multipledevice setting information associated with a single voice and settingmeans reading multiple device setting information corresponding to thevoice recognized by the voice recognition means from the storage meansand performing multiple device setting of the set device in response tothe read multiple device setting information.

[0022] The device setting system converts an input voice to a voicesignal, recognizes a voice corresponding to this voice signal, readsmultiple device setting information corresponding to the recognizedvoice from the storage means and performs multiple device setting inresponse to the read multiple device setting information. When theoperator raises a single voice, therefore, the device setting systemreads multiple device setting information corresponding to this voiceand simultaneously executes corresponding multiple device setting.Consequently, the device setting system can set each device forming thesystem to a desired state with single vocalization and improveoperability for device setting in the device setting system.

[0023] The set device preferably includes a remote control device forremote-controlling the device setting apparatus, connected with thedevice setting apparatus in a bidirectionally communicable state.

[0024] In this case, the device setting apparatus can beremote-controlled with the remote control device, whereby the operatorcan readily set each device forming the system including the remotecontrol device to a desired state also when at a distance from thedevice setting apparatus, for further improving the operability fordevice setting in the device setting system.

[0025] A recording medium recording a device setting program accordingto still another aspect of the present invention records a devicesetting program for making a processing unit perform device setting in adevice setting apparatus having the processing unit, voice input meansconverting an input voice to a voice signal and storage means storingmultiple device setting information associated with a single voice,while the device setting program causes the processing unit performsteps of recognizing a voice corresponding to the voice signal convertedby the voice input means, and reading multiple device settinginformation corresponding to the recognized voice from the storage meansand performing multiple device setting in response to the read multipledevice setting information.

[0026] The recording medium recording the device setting program makesthe processing unit execute the device setting program therebyrecognizing a voice corresponding to a voice signal converted from aninput voice, reading multiple device setting information correspondingto the recognized voice from the storage means and performing multipledevice setting in response to the read multiple device settinginformation. When the operator raises a single voice, therefore, thecorresponding multiple device setting is simultaneously executed withthe multiple device setting information corresponding to this voice.Consequently, a device can be set to a desired state with singlevocalization, and operability for device setting can be improved.

[0027] The setting step preferably includes a step of performingmultiple device setting in the device setting apparatus.

[0028] In this case, multiple device setting in the device settingapparatus itself can be simultaneously performed with singlevocalization, for improving operability for device setting in the devicesetting apparatus.

[0029] The setting step may include a step of performing multiple devicesetting on an external device connected with the device settingapparatus in a bidirectionally communicable state.

[0030] In this case, the device setting apparatus connected with theexternal device in a bidirectionally communicable state can set theexternal device. Therefore, multiple device setting of the externaldevice can be simultaneously performed with single vocalization, forimproving operability for setting the external device.

[0031] The device setting program preferably further cause theprocessing unit perform steps of displaying a plurality of wordscorresponding to a registrable voice and registering a word selectedfrom the displayed plurality of words in the storage means as a newvoice in association with multiple device setting information.

[0032] In this case, a plurality of words corresponding to a registrablevoice are displayed and a word selected from the displayed plurality ofwords and multiple device setting information associated with this wordare registered in the storage means. Therefore, a word and multipledevice setting information corresponding to a desired device state canbe registered through a simple operation of selecting a desired wordfrom the plurality of displayed words.

[0033] The device setting program may further cause the processing unitperform steps processing of displaying a plurality of characters forforming a plurality of words corresponding to a registrable voice andregistering a word formed by a character selected from the displayedplurality of characters in the storage means as a new voice inassociation with multiple device setting information.

[0034] In this case, a plurality of characters are displayed and a wordselected from the displayed plurality of characters and multiple devicesetting information associated with this word are registered in thestorage means. Therefore, the operator can register an arbitrary wordeasy to use for him along with multiple device setting information,whereby the operability can be further improved.

[0035] The registering step preferably includes steps of acquiringmultiple device setting information and registering multiple devicesetting information selected from the acquired multiple device settinginformation in the storage means in association with the new voice.

[0036] In this case, multiple device setting information is acquired sothat the operator selects desired device setting information from theacquired multiple device setting information and registers the selectedmultiple device setting information in the storage means. Therefore,multiple device setting information corresponding to a desired devicestate can be registered through a simple operation of selecting desireddevice setting information from the acquired multiple device settinginformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a devicesetting system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware structure forimplementing functions of a voice recognition part, a device controlpart, a display control part and an external device control part shownin FIG. 1 by software;

[0039]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing device setting of the devicesetting apparatus show in FIG. 1;

[0040]FIG. 4 is a block diagram for illustrating operations of thedevice setting system according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 3;

[0041]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary specificstructure of the device setting system shown in FIG. 1;

[0042]FIG. 6 illustrates examples of words and device settinginformation stored in a word-device setting information storage partshown in FIG. 1;

[0043]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing word and set state registration ofthe device setting apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[0044]FIG. 8 is a block diagram for illustrating operations of thedevice setting system according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 7;

[0045]FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary software keyboard employed for theword and set state registration shown in FIG. 7;

[0046]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for specifically illustrating theword and set state registration shown in FIG. 7 with the device settingapparatus shown in FIG. 5;

[0047]FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary device state list employed forthe word and set state registration shown in FIG. 7; and

[0048]FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary registration word list employedfor the word and set state registration shown in FIG. 7.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0049] A device setting system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is now described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is ablock diagram showing the structure of the device setting systemaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] The device setting system shown in FIG. 1 comprises a devicesetting apparatus 100, a remote control device 200 and an externaldevice 300. The device setting apparatus 100 includes a voice input part1, a voice recognition part 2, a remote control signal receiving part 3,a device control part 4, a display control part 5, a display part 6, aword-device setting information storage part 7, a registration word liststorage part 8, an external device control part 9 and a communicationcontrol part 10. The remote control device 200 includes a communicationcontrol part 201, a remote control signal transmission part 202, aremote control part 203, a liquid crystal display part 204 and a keypart 205.

[0051] The device setting apparatus 100 such as a television receiver,for example, is remote-controlled in response to a remote control signaloutput from the remote control device 200 for performing internal devicesetting as well as device setting of the remote control device 200 andthe external device 300 connected therewith in a bidirectionallycommunicable state.

[0052] The remote control device 200 transmits the remote control signalto the device setting apparatus 100 by infrared communication, forexample, thereby remote-controlling the device setting apparatus 100.The remote control device 200 transmits device setting informationindicating the internal device setting state to the device settingapparatus 100 and performs internal device setting in response to devicesetting information transmitted from the device setting apparatus 100.

[0053] The external device 300 such as a video cassette recorder, avideo disk drive or a game machine, for example, transmits the devicesetting information expressing the internal device setting state to thedevice setting apparatus 100 and performs internal device setting inresponse to the device setting information transmitted from the devicesetting apparatus 100.

[0054] The method of communication between the device setting apparatus100 and the remote control device 200 as well as the external device 300is not particularly restricted so far as the allows bidirectionalcommunication, and IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers 1394), RS-232C (Recommended Standard 232C), IrDA (InfraredData Association) or the like is employable, for example. While thedevice setting apparatus 100 is connected with the single externaldevice 300, the same may alternatively be connected with a plurality ofexternal devices in a bidirectionally communicable state for settingstates of the plurality of external devices.

[0055] The voice input part 1, formed by a microphone or the like, forexample, converts a voice raised by the operator to a voice signal andoutputs the voice signal to the voice recognition part 2. The voicerecognition part 2 recognizes the voice raised by the operator with thevoice signal output from the voice input part 1 and outputs word datacorresponding to the recognized voice to the word-device settinginformation storage part 7. The voice input part 1 may alternatively beprovided on the remote control device 200 for outputting a voice signalfrom the remote control device 200 to the voice recognition part 2 ofthe device setting apparatus 100. In this case, entire device settingcan be performed by operating the remote control device 200.

[0056] The word-device setting information storage part 7 previouslystores a plurality words and multiple device setting informationassociated with each word. The word-device setting information storagepart 7 searches whether or not the word data output from the voicerecognition part 2 is included in already stored word data. When theword data matches with already stored word data, the word-device settinginformation storage part 7 outputs multiple device setting informationstored in association with the stored word data to the device controlpart 4.

[0057] The remote control signal receiving part 3 receives the remotecontrol signal transmitted from the remote control signal transmissionpart 202 of the remote control device 200, and outputs the receivedremote control signal to the device control part 4. The communicationcontrol part 10 is connected with the communication control part 201 ofthe remote control device 200 and a communication control part (notshown) of the external device 300 through wires or by wireless, formaking bidirectional communication with the remote control device 200and the external device 300. The communication control part 10 receivesdevice setting information indicating the current device setting statesof the remote control device 200 and the external device 300 from theremote control device 200 and the external device 300 while transmittingdevice setting information for the external device 300 output from theexternal device control part 9 to the remote control device 200 and theexternal device 300.

[0058] The device control part 4 performs internal control of the devicesetting apparatus 100 in response to the remote control signal outputfrom the remote control signal receiving part 3. The device control part4 separates the device setting information output from the word-devicesetting information storage part 7 into internal device settinginformation and device setting information for the external device 300,for performing internal device setting of the device setting apparatus100 in response to the internal device setting information andoutputting the device setting information for the external device 300 tothe external device control part 9.

[0059] The external device control part 9 receives the device settinginformation for the external device 300 from the device control part 4and outputs the same to the communication control part 10. The externaldevice control part 9 also receives the device setting information ofthe external device 300 input from the communication control part 10 andoutputs this device setting information to the device control part 4.

[0060] The registration word list storage part 8, previously storing aregistration word list including a plurality of words, outputs theregistration word list to the display control part 5. The registrationword list storage part 8 receives a newly registered word output fromthe word-device setting information storage part 7 and adds this word tothe registration word list.

[0061] The display control part 5 receives device setting informationfor the display part 6 output from the device control part 4 and outputsa display control signal for controlling the display part 6 to thedisplay part 6 in response to this device setting information. Thedisplay part 6, the display state of which is controlled by the displaycontrol signal, displays a prescribed display screen. The displaycontrol part 5 receives the registration word list from the registrationword list storage part 8 and makes the display part 6 display theregistration word list.

[0062] The communication control part 201 of the remote control device200 receives device setting information for the remote control device200 from the communication control part 10 of the device settingapparatus 100 and outputs the same to the remote control part 203 whiletransmitting the device setting information of the remote control device200 output from the remote control part 203 to the communication controlpart 10. The remote control signal transmission part 202 transmits theremote control signal output from the remote control part 203 to theremote control signal receiving part 3 of the device setting apparatus100.

[0063] The key part 205, formed by a plurality of keys including aregistration start button, outputs an input signal corresponding to akey pressed by the operator to the remote control part 203. The remotecontrol part 203 performs internal control of the remote control device200 on the basis of the input device setting information for controllingthe liquid crystal display part 204 while receiving the input signalinput from the key part 205. The liquid crystal display part 204displays a display screen responsive to the display control signaloutput from the remote control part 203.

[0064] In this embodiment, the device setting apparatus 100 correspondsto the device setting apparatus, the remote control device 200 and theexternal device 300 correspond to the set device, and the remote controldevice 200 corresponds to the remote control device.

[0065] The voice input part 1 corresponds to the voice input means, thevoice recognition part 2 corresponds to the voice recognition means, theword-device setting information storage part 7 corresponds to thestorage means, and the device control part 4 and the external devicecontrol part 9 correspond to the setting means. The device control part4 corresponds to the internal device setting means, and the externaldevice control part 9 corresponds to the external device setting means.

[0066] The remote control signal receiving part 3, the device controlpart 4, the display control part 5, the display part 6, the registrationword list storage part 8, the external device control part 9 and thecommunication control part 10 correspond to the registration means, thedevice control part 4, the display control part 5, the display part 6and the registration word list storage part 8 correspond to the displaymeans, the device control part 4, the display control part 5 and thedisplay part 6 correspond to the character display means, and the devicecontrol part 4, the external device control part 9 and the communicationcontrol part 10 correspond to the acquisition means. The remote controlsignal receiving part 3, the device control part 4, the display controlpart 5 and the display part 6 correspond to the selection means, and theremote control signal receiving part 3 corresponds to the receivingmeans.

[0067] The functions of the voice recognition part 2, the device controlpart 4, the display control part 5 and the external device control part9 shown in FIG. 1 can also be implemented by software, and the hardwarestructure of this case is now described. FIG. 2 is a block diagramshowing the hardware structure for implementing the functions of thevoice recognition part 2, the device control part 4, the display controlpart 5 and the external device control part 9 shown in FIG. 1 bysoftware.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 2, a CPU (central processing unit) 21, a RAM(random access memory) 22, a ROM (read only memory) 23 and an externalmemory device 24 are connected to a bus 25 respectively, fortransmitting/receiving various control signals and data through the bus25. The CPU 21 operates according to a device setting program stored inthe ROM 23, for executing the functions of the voice recognition part 2,the device control part 4, the display control part 5 and the externaldevice control part 9. The CPU 21 writes and reads data in and from theRAM 22 or the external memory device 24 at need, for implementing thefunctions of the word-device setting information storage part 7 and theregistration word list storage part 8 as memory devices.

[0069] While the ROM 23 is employed as a recording medium recording thedevice setting program in the above description, a recording medium 26used for the external memory device 24 may alternatively be employed. Inthis case, a floppy disk drive, a CD-ROM drive or an optical disk driveis employed as the external memory device 24, while a floppy disk, aCD-ROM or an optical disk is employed as the recording medium 26.Alternatively, a device setting program transmitted by a communicationmedium such as the Internet may be recorded in the external memorydevice 24 or the RAM 22 without employing the recording medium 26, forexecuting the recorded device setting program thereby implementing theaforementioned functions.

[0070] Device setting in the device setting apparatus having theaforementioned structure is now described. FIG. 3 is a flow chartshowing the device setting in the device setting apparatus shown in FIG.1, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram for illustrating operations of thedevice setting system according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 3.

[0071] When the operator inputs a single voice in the voice input part 1by single vocalization, the voice input part 1 converts the input voiceto a voice signal and outputs the same to the voice recognition part 2.The voice recognition part 2 recognizes the voice raised by the operatorwith the input voice signal, and outputs word data corresponding to therecognized voice to the word-device setting information storage part 7.Thus, the input voice is recognized at a step S1.

[0072] Then, the word-device setting information storage part 7determines whether or not word data corresponding to the input word datais already registered. Thus, a determination is made at a step S2 as towhether or not the word corresponding to the input voice is alreadyregistered, for advancing to a step S3 if the word is registered, whileending the processing when the word is unregistered.

[0073] When determining the word as registered, the word-device settinginformation storage part 7 outputs multiple device setting informationstorage in association with the word data to the device control part 4.Thus, the word-device setting information storage part 7 outputs themultiple device setting information corresponding to thevoice-recognized word at a step S3.

[0074] Then, the device control part 4 separates the input multipledevice setting information into internal device setting information forthe device setting apparatus 100 and device setting information for theexternal device 300. The device control part 4 sets the internal devicestate in response to the internal device setting information. Whensetting the display mode of the display part 6, for example, the devicecontrol part 4 operates the display control part 5 for setting thedisplay part 6 to a display mode corresponding to the device settinginformation. Further, the device control part 4 outputs the devicesetting information for the external device 300 to the external devicecontrol part 9. The external device control part 9 transmits the devicesetting information for the external device 300 to the external device300 through the communication control part 10. The external device 300sets the internal device state in response to the received devicesetting information. Thus, the internal device and the external device300 are set in response to the device setting information at a step S4.

[0075] Then, the external device control part 9 determines whether ornot external device control is present by detecting input of the devicesetting information for the external device 300 from the device controlpart 4. Thus, the external control part 9 determines presence/absence ofthe external device control at a step S5 for advancing to a step S6 whenthe external device control is present while ending the processing whenno external device control is present.

[0076] When determining that the external device control is present, theexternal device control part 9 outputs external device name dataexpressing the name of the external device 300 whose device settinginformation is transmitted on the basis of the input device settinginformation for the external device 300 to the communication controlpart 10 as device setting information for the remote control device 200.The communication control part 10 transmits the input external devicename data to the communication control part 201 of the remote controldevice 200. Thus, the communication control part 10 transmits the nameof the external device to be set to the remote control device 200 at astep S6.

[0077] Finally, the communication control part 201 outputs the inputexternal device name data to the remote control part 203. The remotecontrol part 203 changes the operation mode of the remote control device200 to be capable operating the corresponding external device with theinput external device name data, thereby adjusting the remote controldevice 200 to serve as a remote control device for the external device300. At this time, the remote control part 203 outputs a display controlsignal to the liquid crystal display part 204, so that the liquidcrystal display part 204 displays an operation screen for operating theexternal device 300. Thus, the remote control part 203 changes theremote control device 200 to the mode capable of operating the externaldevice 300 to be subjected to device control at a step S7.

[0078] When the operator raises a single voice, the voice recognitionpart 2 recognizes this voice so that the device control part 4 and theexternal device control part 9 simultaneously execute correspondingmultiple device setting with the corresponding multiple device settinginformation read from the word-device setting information storage part 7through the aforementioned processing in this embodiment. Consequently,a desired device state can be set with single vocalization, forimproving operability for device setting.

[0079] The device setting of the device setting system shown in FIG. 1is described in detail with a further specific example. FIG. 5 is aschematic diagram showing an exemplary specific structure of the devicesetting system shown in FIG. 1.

[0080] The device setting system shown in FIG. 5 is formed by atelevision receiver 100 a serving as the device setting apparatus, a VCR(video cassette recorder) 300 a, a DVD (digital video disk) drive 300 band a game machine 300 c serving as external devices, and a remotecontrol device 200 a.

[0081] When the operator vocalizes “dee vee dee saisei” with amicrophone 1 a, for example, the voice recognition part 2 recognizes thewords “

(replay DVD)” (step S1).

[0082]FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary words stored in the word-devicesetting information storage part 7 and device setting informationcorresponding to the words. As shown in FIG. 6, words “

(replay VCR)”, for example, are associated with device settinginformation of input switching to “video 1”, a graphic menu of“dynamic”, a voice menu of “dynamic” and a screen mode of “normal” asthe internal device state of the television receiver 100 a as well aswith device setting information for bringing the VCR 300 a which is theexternal device into a “replay state”, and the words and the devicesetting information are stored in the word-device setting informationstorage part 7 respectively.

[0083] Similarly, the contents of device control 1 to device control 4(device states 1 to 4) are stored as internal device setting informationof the television receiver 100 a for “

(replay DVD)”, “

(game)”, “

(TV on)”, “

(TV off)” and the like, while device control 5 (device state 5) isstored as device setting information for the VCR 300 a, the DVD drive300 b and the game machine 300 c.

[0084] When the word-device setting information storage part 7 storesthe words and the corresponding device setting information shown in FIG.6, the words “

(replay DVD)” are registered (step S2) and hence the contents of thedevice control 1 to the device control 5 (device states 1 to 5) storedfor these words are output to the device control part 4 as the devicesetting information (step S3).

[0085] Therefore, the device control part 4 and the like set the inputswitching to “video 2”, the graphic menu and the voice menu to “cinema”and the screen mode to “self-wide” on the television receiver 100 a,while the external device control part 9 and the like set the DVD drive300 to a “replay” state (step S4).

[0086] In this case, the DVD drive 300 b is subjected to device controland hence the external device control part 9 and the like transmit “DVDdrive” to the remote control device 200 a as external device name data,for changing the liquid display part 204 of the remote control device200 a to a screen for operating the DVD drive 300 b. Therefore, the DVDdrive 300 b can be operated with the remote control device 200 a.

[0087] Thus, the operator can simultaneously set the device states ofthe television receiver 100 a, the VCR 300 a, the DVD drive 300 b andthe game machine 300 c by vocalizing any of the aforementioned words.

[0088] While device setting is performed with words already stored inthe word-device setting information storage part 7 in the abovedescription, this embodiment is formed to also perform word and setstate registration registering a new word, i.e., a new voice used by theoperator for device setting in association with new multiple devicesetting information, so that the operator can set device statessimilarly to the above by raising the newly registered voice.

[0089] The word and set state registration of the device settingapparatus shown in FIG. 1 is now described. FIG. 7 is a flow chartshowing the word and set state registration of the device settingapparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram forillustrating operations of the device setting system according to theflow chart shown in FIG. 7.

[0090] When the operator presses the registration start button of thekey part 205 of the remote control device 200, the key part 205 poststhe remote control part 203 that the registration start button ispressed. The remote control part 203 responsively transmits aregistration start signal to the remote control signal receiving part 3through the remote control signal transmission part 202, and the remotecontrol signal receiving part 3 outputs the received registration startsignal to the device control part 4. Thus, the remote control signalreceiving part 3 receives the registration start signal transmitted fromthe remote control device 200 at a step S11.

[0091] Then, the external device control part 9 detects whether or notthe external device communicable through the communication control part10 is connected and posts the result to the device control part 4, whichin turn determines presence/absence of connection of the externaldevice. Thus, the device control part 4, the external device controlpart 9 and the like determine presence/absence of connection of theexternal device at a step S12, so that the process advances to a stepS13 when the external device is connected while advancing to a step S14when no external device is connected.

[0092] When the external device is connected, the device control part 4makes communication with the external device by the external devicecontrol part 9 through the communication control part 10, and acquiresthe state of device setting of the external device, i.e., device settinginformation. According to this embodiment, the external device 300 isconnected and hence the external device 300 transmits the device settinginformation thereof to the communication control part 10, which in turnoutputs the received device setting information to the device controlpart 4 through the external device control part 9. Thus, the state ofthe external device 300 is acquired at a step S13.

[0093] Then, the device control part 4 acquires the current devicesetting state of the device setting apparatus 100, i.e., device settinginformation, and outputs the same to the display control part 5. Whenacquiring the state of the external device 300 at the step S13, thedevice control part 4 outputs the input device setting information tothe display control part 5 as the current device setting state of theexternal device 300. Consequently, the display control part 5 outputsthe device setting information of the device setting apparatus 100 andthat of the external device 300, so that the display part 6 displays alist of the device setting information of the device setting apparatus100 and that of the external device 300. Thus, the respective devicestates are displayed at a step S14.

[0094] Then, the operator operates the key part 205 of the remotecontrol device 200 for selecting device setting information to beregistered from the device setting information displayed on the displaypart 6, so that an operation signal responsive to the operation of thekey part 5 is output to the remote control part 203, which in turntransmits the operation signal to the remote control signal receivingpart 3 through the remote control signal transmission part 202. Theremote control signal receiving part 3 outputs the received operationsignal to the display control part 5 through the device control part 4,and the display control part 5 outputs the device setting informationselected with the operation signal to the device control part 4. Thus,the necessary device state is selected by operating the remote controldevice 200 at a step S15.

[0095] Then, the device control part 4 controls the display control part5 to display a selection screen for a word registration method on thedisplay part 6. As the word registration method, the operator maycombine desired words selected from a plurality of previously preparedwords and register the combined words, or may register arbitrary words.When the operator operates the key part 205 of the remote control device200 and selects the used word registration method from those displayedon the display part 6, an operation signal responsive to the operationof the key part 205 is output to the remote control part 203, which inturn transmits the operation signal to the remote control signalreceiving part 3 through the remote control signal transmission part202. The remote control signal receiving part 3 outputs the receivedoperation signal to the display control part 5 through the devicecontrol part 4, and the display control part 5 outputs the registrationmethod selected with the operation signal to the device control part 4.Thus, the word registration method is selected by operating the remotecontrol device 200 at a step S16.

[0096] Then, the device control part 4 determines whether or not themethod of registering arbitrary words is selected as the wordregistration method. Thus, a determination is made as to whether or notarbitrary words are created at a step S17, and the process advances to astep S18 when creating arbitrary words while advancing to a step S19when not creating arbitrary words but combining desired words selectedfrom the previously prepared plurality of words.

[0097] When creating arbitrary words, the device control part 4 controlsthe display control part 5 to display a software keyboard shown in FIG.9 on the display part 6. Thus, the display part 6 displays the softwarekeyboard at the step S18.

[0098] When not arbitrarily creating words, the display control part 5reads the previously stored registration word list from the registrationword list storage part 8, and makes the display part 6 display theregistration word list listing a plurality of words. Thus, the contentsof the registration word list storage part 8 are displayed at the stepS19.

[0099] Then, the operator operates the key part 205 of the remotecontrol device 200 and selects desired characters or words from theaforementioned software keyboard or the registration word list, so thatan operation signal responsive to the operation of the key part 205 isoutput to the remote control part 203, which in turn transmits theoperation signal to the remote control signal receiving part 3 throughthe remote control signal transmission part 203. The remote controlsignal receiving part 3 outputs the received operation signal to thedisplay control part 5 through the device control part 4, and thedisplay control part 5 outputs the characters or words selected with theoperation signal to the device control part 4. The device control part 4creates word data formed by the input characters or words. Thus, thewords for registration are created by operating the remote controldevice at a step S20.

[0100] Then, the device control part 4 associates the input word datawith the device setting information selected at the step S15. Thus, theselected words are associated with the device state at a step S21.

[0101] Then, the device control part 4 registers the associated worddata and device setting information in the word-device settinginformation storage part 7. Thus, the selected words and device settinginformation are registered in the word-device setting informationstorage part 7 at a step 22. The word-device setting information storagepart 7 outputs word data newly registered through the software keyboardto the registration word list storage part 8 so that a new word is addedto the registration word list and can also be used when thereaftercreating words with the registration word list.

[0102] When the operator operates the remote control device 200, thedisplay part 6 displays acquired multiple device setting information anda plurality of words or characters respectively so that a desired wordand a desired device state can be newly registered in the word-devicesetting information storage part 7 by selecting the same through theaforementioned processing in this embodiment. Therefore, the operatorcan register a word easy to use for him along with desired devicesetting information through a simple operation, and the operability canbe further improved.

[0103] The word and set state registration of the device setting systemshown in FIG. 1 is described in more detail with a further specificexample. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for specifically illustratingthe aforementioned word and set state registration with the devicesetting system show in FIG. 5.

[0104] It is assumed that the operator presses the registration startbutton of the remote control device 200 a while replaying the VCR 300 a.At this time, the remote control signal receiving part 3 of thetelevision receiver 100 a receives a registration start signal (stepS11). The VCR 300 a, the DVD drive 300 b and the game machine 300 c areconnected as the external devices (step 12), and hence the externaldevice control part 9 and the like acquire the device settinginformation of the VCR 300 a, the DVD drive 300 b and the game machine300 c (step S13), and the display part 6 displays a current device statelist shown in FIG. 11, for example (step S14).

[0105] Then, the operator selects items to be active with the remotecontrol device 200 a. When the operator selects “channel (input)”,“graphic menu”, “voice menu”, “screen mode” and “external device (VCR)”,for example, multiple device setting information for setting the channel(input) to “video 1”, the graphic menu to “dynamic”, the voice menu to“dynamic”, the screen mode to “normal” and the external device (VCR) toa “replay” state is selected (step S15).

[0106] When the operator selects the word registration method ofcombining words selected from previously prepared ones with the remotecontrol device 200 a (step S16), the display part 6 displays a word listshown in FIG. 12, for example, as the contents of the registration wordlist storage part 8 (step S19). When the operator operates the remotecontrol device 200 a and selects “

(VCR) (

(bideo))” and “

(replay) (

(saisei))” for creating words “

(replay VCR) (

(bideo saisei))” (step S20), for example, the created words areassociated with the state of the selected device (step S21), so that theword-device setting information storage part 7 registers the words “

(replay VCR) (

(bideo saisei))” and the multiple device setting information for settingthe channel (input) to “video 1”, the graphic menu to “dynamic”, thevoice menu to “dynamic”, the screen mode to “normal” and the externaldevice (VCR) to the “replay” state (step S22).

[0107] When the operator selects the method capable of arbitraryselecting words, the display part 6 displays the software keyboard shownin FIG. 9 (step S19). When the operator operates the remote controldevice 200 a and selects “

(bi)”, “

(de)”, “

(o)”, “

(sa)”, “

(i)”, “

(se)” and “

(i)” for creating words “

(replay VCR)” (step 20), the created words are associated with theaforementioned selected device state (step S21) and registered in theword-device setting information storage part 7 (step S22).

[0108] While word data corresponding to voices are registered for voicerecognition in this embodiment, the voice of the operator mayalternatively be registered in the state of a voice signal forperforming voice recognition by determining whether or not the voiceraised by the operator matches with the voice pattern. In this case, aperson other than the operator, i.e., the registrant, cannot operate thesystem and hence this is effective for limiting the operator.

[0109] While displayed words or characters are subjected to selectionfor creating and registering word data corresponding to a new voice whenregistering the new voice, the voice of the operator input from thevoice input part may alternatively be registered as the new voice, whilethe displayed words may not be combined but may be directly registeredwith desired device setting information. In this case, the new voice canbe more readily registered and the operability can be further improved.

1. A device setting apparatus comprising: voice input means convertingan input voice to a voice signal; voice recognition means recognizing avoice corresponding to said voice signal converted by said voice inputmeans; storage means storing multiple device setting informationassociated with a single voice; and setting means reading multipledevice setting information corresponding to said voice recognized bysaid voice recognition means from said storage means and performingmultiple device setting in response to said read multiple device settinginformation.
 2. The device setting apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said setting means includes internal device setting meansperforming multiple device setting in said device setting apparatus. 3.The device setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said devicesetting apparatus is connected with an external device in abidirectionally communicable state, and said setting means includesexternal device setting means performing multiple device setting on saidexternal device.
 4. The device setting apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising registration means registering multiple devicesetting information associated with a new voice in said storage means.5. The device setting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein saidregistration means further includes: display means displaying aplurality of words corresponding to a registrable voice, and selectionmeans for selecting a word corresponding to a voice to be registeredfrom said plurality of words displayed on said display means, and saidregistration means registers said word selected by said selection meansin said storage means in association with multiple device settinginformation.
 6. The device setting apparatus according to claim 5,wherein said selection means further includes receiving means receivinga remote control signal transmitted to said device setting apparatus,and said selection means performs selection in response to said remotecontrol signal received by said receiving means.
 7. The device settingapparatus according to claim 4, wherein said registration means furtherincludes: character display means displaying a plurality of charactersfor forming a plurality of words corresponding to a registrable voice,and selection means for selecting a character forming a wordcorresponding to a voice to be registered from said plurality ofcharacters displayed on said character display means, and saidregistration means registers said word formed by said character selectedby said selection means in said storage means in association withmultiple device setting information.
 8. The device setting apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein said selection means further includesreceiving means receiving a remote control signal transmitted to saiddevice setting apparatus, and said selection means performs selection inresponse to said remote control signal received by said receiving means.9. The device setting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein saidregistration means further includes: acquisition means acquiringmultiple device setting information, and selection means for selectingmultiple device setting information associated with a new voice fromsaid multiple device setting information acquired by said acquisitionmeans, and said registration means registers said multiple devicesetting information selected by said selection means in said storagemeans in association with said new voice.
 10. The device settingapparatus according to claim 9, wherein said selection means furtherincludes receiving means receiving a remote control signal transmittedto said device setting apparatus, and said selection means performsselection in response to said remote control signal received by saidreceiving means.
 11. A device setting system comprising: a devicesetting apparatus; and a set device connected with said device settingapparatus in a bidirectionally communicable state, wherein said devicesetting apparatus includes: voice input means converting an input voiceto a voice signal; voice recognition means recognizing a voicecorresponding to said voice signal converted by said voice input means;storage means storing multiple device setting information associatedwith a single voice; and setting means reading multiple device settinginformation corresponding to said voice recognized by said voicerecognition means from said storage means and performing multiple devicesetting of said set device in response to said read multiple devicesetting information.
 12. The device setting system according to claim11, wherein said set device includes a remote control device forremote-controlling said device setting apparatus, connected with saiddevice setting apparatus in a bidirectionally communicable state.
 13. Arecording medium recording a device setting program for making aprocessing unit perform device setting in a device setting apparatushaving said processing unit, voice input means converting an input voiceto a voice signal and storage means storing multiple device settinginformation associated with a single voice, wherein said device settingprogram causes said processing unit perform steps of: recognizing avoice corresponding to said voice signal converted by said voice inputmeans, and reading multiple device setting information corresponding torecognized said voice from said storage means and performing multipledevice setting in response to read said multiple device settinginformation.
 14. The recording medium recording a device setting programaccording to claim 13, wherein said setting step includes a step ofperforming multiple device setting in said device setting apparatus. 15.The recording medium recording a device setting program according toclaim 13, wherein said setting step includes a step of performingmultiple device setting on an external device connected with said devicesetting apparatus in a bidirectionally communicable state.
 16. Therecording medium recording a device setting program according to claim13, wherein said device setting program further causes said processingunit perform steps of displaying a plurality of words corresponding to aregistrable voice and registering a word selected from displayed saidplurality of words in said storage means as a new voice in associationwith multiple device setting information.
 17. The recording mediumrecording a device setting program according to claim 16, wherein saidregistering step includes steps of acquiring multiple device settinginformation and registering multiple device setting information selectedfrom said acquired multiple device setting information in said storagemeans in association with said new voice.
 18. The recording mediumrecording a device setting program according to claim 13, wherein saiddevice setting program further causes said processing unit perform stepsof displaying a plurality of characters for forming a plurality of wordscorresponding to a registrable voice and registering a word formed by acharacter selected from displayed said plurality of characters in saidstorage means as a new voice in association with multiple device settinginformation.
 19. The recording medium recording a device setting programaccording to claim 18, wherein said registering step includes steps ofacquiring multiple device setting information and registering multipledevice setting information selected from acquired said multiple devicesetting information in said storage means in association with said newvoice.